General Interest~~Spanish~~Spanish History & Culture~~French~~French History & Culture 

General Interest Sites

AltaVista Translations

This site allows you to translate text from German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Korean, Japanese or Chinese to English, or from English to any of these languages. Type in a URL address and translate an entire web page! (Warning:  Don't take these translations as gospel--they are very literal and sometimes make no sense when re-translated back into the original language.)

BBC Languages Online

Information about four countries (Spain, France, Italy and Germany), and their languages.  Includes maps, short histories, places of interest, culture, food & drink, and business information. You can learn a phrase or take a complete beginner's course in each language.

iLoveLanguages

The 'Languages & Literature' section of this site contains link to an incredible array of language sources.  See how many languages exist that you never even heard of!  Includes native American links.

Languages Made Clear

This website from the Netherlands offers information about English, Spanish, French, german, Dutch, Portuguese, Italian, and Esperanto. Areas of study include grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation (RealPlayer is necessary for this area).  Lessons are available in Spanish and French.

Travlang's Language for Travelers

Learn a few essential phrases in 74 different languages.  Sound files help in pronunciation of common words and phrases.  Link to Travlang for online translating dictionaries.  There are many products for sale here, but much that is free, also. Both sites were created and are maintained by Dr. Michael C. Martin--a physicist.

The ESL Quiz Center

Useful for new immigrants or foreign exchange students.  Quizzes include current events, geography, grammar, history, idioms and slang, people, science, world culture, and writing.  Quizzes are checked in seconds, with feedback provided.  Maintained by Dave Sperling.

Spanish Language Sites

¡Españolé!

Spanish literature, arts, music, people, history, foods, countries, and help with AP exams.  Created by a Florida high school teacher.

Spanish Grammar Exercises

From Trinity University in Texas. The exercises are grouped by parts of speech.  For advanced students.

Learn Spanish

Free online tutorials including written and oral exercises,  and written tests.  Cultural Notes have English translations. lots of verb drills and vocabulary practice.  Requires a free membership. Provided by Spanish Learning Resources, which also sells advanced materials at this site.

Spanish Language Exercises

Test yourself with online interactive exercises in Spanish grammar. From Juan Ramon de Arana, Spanish professor at Ursinus College.

History & Culture of Spain and Mexico

Discover Spain

The official site of the tourist office of Spain.  Provides general information about Spain, its culture, national parks, transportation, and communication.  Links to museums and travel information.

Si, Spain

A broad-based information resource site about Spain and its people, sponsored by the Embassy of Spain in Ottawa, Canada.  This is a comprehensive and interesting site, valuable to the student of Spanish language, history, culture, geography, science and technology.  The site can be read in Spanish, French, German or English.

Mexico Online

Links are organized by topic--geography, history, government, holidays, schools, etc.--with many divisions within.

Mexico Connect

A monthly magazine of the culture, travel, and business of Mexico. Interesting feature articles.

American Memory Spanish Collection

From the Library of Congress in partnership with the Institución Colombina of Spain.

French Language Sites

Fast & Friendly French for Fun

Beginning French students will find grammar lessons, games in French, and information about France's geography, people, and food.  Excellent navigation.  Each lesson is followed by an interactive quiz.  Sound files allow you to hear words and phrases spoken by a French teacher (requires RealAudio, Wave, or SunNeXT).  Links to French-related sites.  Created by high school students as a ThinkQuest project.

Really Useful French Teaching Site

There are many exercises here in many forms--flash cards, , word search, matching, crosswords, etc.  Many of the exercises are built around a theme...going to the movies, eating at a restaurant.  You'll need some plug-ins to take full advantage of the site.  Teaching tools also for sale here.

Tennessee Bob's Famous French Links

This guide is in its second edition and includes 10,000 links to French language and educational sites.  Compiled by Bob Peckham, University of Tennessee-Martin.

French History & Culture

The Embassy of France

News, travel, education, science, cooking, sports...if you can't find it at this site, click on 'France on the Internet' for more helpful links. 

Magic Paris

Monuments, museums, maps, money guide, fashion, shopping.  Beautiful panoramic views of the city.

The Paris Pages

Monuments, museums, shops & cafes..."a collection of everything regarding the City of Light."  The 'Kiosk' has short human interest articles.

French Newspapers

Links from the American Journalism Review site to twenty-one French newspapers.

 

For more links to French history & culture sites, see Tennessee Bob's site in the French language section above.